Early AMC I6/T5 adaptation

I have a long write up, with pictures, and every time I go to post, it says "access denied". What gives????

Edited by 232jav3sp - Feb/07/2016 at 9:01pm

Parts needed to adapt a T5 to an early AMC 6.

Moderndriveline trans adapter
T5 trans from 3.8L V6 Mustang ('98 or '99 went to electronic speedo)
Dorman 690-043 pilot bushing
Ford T5 throw-out bearing
Longer clutch fork pivot
Clutch disc from '80s Ford 4cyl/T5 Mustang/T-Bird/Merc Capri
Ford Racing slip yoke and conversion U-Joint


Call MDL for the trans adapter. It cost me $180 shipped, came with new hardware to mount to the bellhousing, and new bolts to mount the trans to it.





The T5 needs to come from a 3.8L Mustang for the longer input shaft needed to reach the pilot bushing. Get an early one so your mechanical speedo cable will work. My stock T14 cable fit perfectly. FYI, the Mustang speedo sender is electronic, but, driven mechanically by the trans. SO, don't get worried about seeing an electrical connector on the trans.

Dorman 690-043 pilot bushing is needed for the OD of the T5 input shaft. Have only found them sold in packs of 5.

I decided to use the stock Ford T5 throw-bearing. It has plenty of surface area to contact the Borg&Beck levers. Only problems are the bearing height is much shorter then the stock T14 throw-out bearing, and the clutch fork needs some very minor clearancing to slip into the T5 bearing fork groove (hard to see in picture, but I took material off the right side/front of fork), and to pivot on it smoothly. The bearing height issue is solved with getting, or making, a longer clutch fork pivot. I used a grade 8 bolt (forget the length, I THINK 2.25") and shaped the head into a ball using the bench grinder.



I talked to MDL about a clutch kit for the swap, and, they quoted me a fairly large price to have a kit BUILT for the application. SOOOOO... I took to the internet to find something that would work. Turned out that the 4cyl/T5 combo from an '80s Ford Mustang/T-Bird or Mercury Capri uses a 9" clutch, and that is exactly what you need to use the stock Bork&Beck clutch. The disc I used is made by SACHS (PN, SD1228), I bought it from RockAuto, and it measured .020" thicker then the reconditioned T14 disc. I had the pressure plate rebuild and resurfaced, and had the flywheel resurfaced, too, and the petal pressure and action is as smooth as a hydraulic clutch. The SACHS disc is on the left.



Summit sells the Ford Racing T5 slip yoke in the Mustang section. Is $50 if memory serves. You need a 1310/1330 conversion U-Joint, again, if memory serves. I'm almost certain that is correct, though. Of course, your driveshaft will have to be shortened.

Now, as for the trans mount and crossmember, I decided to build my own crossmember to use the trans mount for an '02 Mustang w/auto trans. I had replaced one on a customer's car, and it looked like it would bolt to the T5. Low and behold, it did. Doing a little mockup, it looks like the stock crossmember will work by cutting out a notch/path in the center hump, and using '55 Chevy "donut" motor mounts. Again, it looked like it would work that way, but I didn't explore further. By making my own mount, I used all three mounting holes on both sides of the uni-body, whereas the factory only uses two on each side. My mount is a little crude (bender doesn't go down 1" dies).






The only issue that you will have when installing this trans in a Javelin is the floor support rib. The shifter housing will hit it because the trans spacer moves it back an inch. The solution is to notch the rib in half and make a cut out for the shifter housing, then you have to cut a new hole in the floor (as expected). The only picture I have is before notching the rib.

i want to reiterate how useful this thread is. i'm going through this same process now, "early six", T5, TO bearing, clutch, etc. working out TO bearing details, have the trans etc. i will write up my details too once i get started on assembly.

Thank you very much for the write up... I plan on doing something similar, but it will be at least a year from now.